Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Parasitoids of Gramineous Stemborers in Africa
Eur. J. Entomol. 107: 169–176, 2010 http://www.eje.cz/scripts/viewabstract.php?abstract=1524 ISSN 1210-5759 (print), 1802-8829 (online) Host recognition and acceptance behaviour in Cotesia sesamiae and C. flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), parasitoids of gramineous stemborers in Africa MESHACK OBONYO1, 2, FRITZ SCHULTHESS3, BRUNO LE RU 2, JOHNNIE VAN DEN BERG1 and PAUL-ANDRÉ CALATAYUD2* 1School of Environmental Science and Development, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa 2Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UR 072, c/o International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology ( ICIPE), Noctuid Stemborer Biodiversity (NSBB) Project, PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya and Université Paris-Sud 11, 91405 Orsay, France 3ICIPE, Stemborer Biocontrol Program, PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya Key words. Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Cotesia sesamiae, C. flavipes, Lepidoptera, Pyralidae, Eldana saccharina, Noctuidae, Busseola fusca, Chilo partellus, parasitoids, host recognition, host acceptance, stemborers, Africa Abstract. The host recognition and acceptance behaviour of two braconid larval parasitoids (Cotesia sesamiae and C. flavipes) were studied using natural stemborer hosts (i.e., the noctuid Busseola fusca for C. sesamiae, and the crambid Chilo partellus for C. flavi- pes) and a non-host (the pyralid Eldana saccharina). A single larva was introduced into an arena together with a female parasitoid and the behaviour of the wasp recorded until it either stung the larva or for a maximum of 5 min if it did not sting the larva. There was a clear hierarchy of behavioural steps, which was similar for both parasitoid species. In the presence of suitable host larvae, after a latency period of 16–17 s, the wasp walked rapidly drumming the surface with its antennae until it located the larva.
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